Melissa's forget-me-not: Victor wins over Republicans

It's not too early to be thinking about holiday stocking stuffers for the young Republicans in your household.

At least that's what the Republican National Committee appears to be thinking as it peddles a collection of plush GOP elephants led by -- who else• -- Victor the Victory Elephant.

"Victor is ready to hit the convention floor to place his nomination vote for John McCain and rally Republicans to victory with his convention pennant," RNC Membership Services Director Sue Gazdo wrote in an e-mail to party supporters.

Victor can be yours for the incredibly low campaign contribution of just $35. Or you can obtain the entire cute and cuddly herd -- which also includes Max , Maxine , Patrick and Sam -- for the small donation of just $125.

For those wondering why the party suddenly has gone all S.W. Randall, Gazdo offered this explanation:

"With Barack Obama breaking his pledge to the American people to accept public financing for the general election campaign, our party must be able to counter the nearly $1 billion he and liberal special interests will spend to defeat John McCain and all our GOP candidates. Your generous gift today is critical to ensuring the RNC's candidate support programs are fully funded."

Order now and not only will you have the elephants in plenty of time for Christmas -- Gazdo also guarantees they will arrive before the Republican National Convention, which begins Sept. 1 in Minnesota.

Melissa Hart's campaign in the 4th Congressional District sent a news release last week that began: "Congresswoman Melissa Hart today announced ... ."

Did we miss something?

If memory serves, the Bradford Woods Republican was ousted from Congress in November 2006 by voters in the 4th District who gave that post to McCandless Democrat Jason Altmire . Hart is attempting to win the seat back in this year's November election.

Alicia Collins , Hart's campaign spokeswoman, said the information sent to news organizations that seemingly restored Hart's incumbency a bit prematurely was not a misstatement, but it was a reference to the honorary title given to former officeholders in polite conversation.

Asked if calling her "congresswoman" in a news release was, at the very least, misleading, Collins said it was intended only to pay respect to Hart's accomplishments.

"That's her title forever," she said.

Altmire might disagree.

FINALLY FUMO-GATING THE LEGISLATURE . With state Sen. Vince Fumo 's impending retirement, speculation has begun as to who will succeed him as the ranking Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee.

The Philadelphia Daily News reported on Friday that Sens. Sean Logan of Monroeville and Jay Costa of Forest Hills are among the contenders for the job. Three Philadelphia-area lawmakers also are interested: Sens. Anthony Williams , Vincent Hughes and Michael Stack .

Although Fumo is from Philly and officially is remaining neutral, the Daily News reported that he privately has been attempting to drum up support for Logan. Fumo dropped his re-election bid earlier this year to focus on his upcoming trial on public corruption charges.

INJUDICIOUS OPINION BENCHED. We would suggest the folks at the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts keep better track of the ethics complaints filed against Pennsylvania Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald Castille .

The administrative office issued a release Monday stating the state Judicial Conduct Board had dismissed an ethics complaint against Castille filed by the group Casino-Free Philadelphia.

The complaint was filed over remarks Castille made regarding a lawsuit involving the League of Women Voters against Castille's predecessor as chief justice, Ralph Cappy .

Although Judicial Conduct Board proceedings are confidential, the subject of an ethics complaint is permitted to waive that confidentiality. Castille chose to do that when notified the complaint would not be pursued.

Three hours later, the administrative office staff issued another release in which they fessed up -- big oops here -- that the complaint filed by Casino-Free Philadelphia remains active.

Turns out the Judicial Conduct Board had dismissed another complaint against Castille unrelated to the one filed by Casino-Free Philadelphia. Who filed that complaint is unknown. Castille chose not to make that one public.

PLATFORM DIVING. State Senate Majority Whip Jane Orie of McCandless will be the only Pennsylvania politician to chair one of the 2008 platform subcommittees for next month's Republican National Convention.

Orie will chair the Protecting Our Families, Preserving Our Values subcommittee, which will dive into criminal justice policy issues and social policy issues such as the culture of life, traditional marriage and the right to bear arms.

DOUBLE-TEAMING BOMPIANI. Supporters of Democrat Mike O'Barto , a Unity supervisor running for a state House seat, are musing about the difference in support O'Barto's campaign is receiving from Westmoreland County Commissioners T om Balya and Tom Ceraso , compared with the Toms' efforts for another Democrat candidate, state Senate hopeful Tony Bompiani .

The Democrat majority commissioners frequently appear at Bompiani events. They have yet to appear at an O'Barto one. Balya and Ceraso attended last week's courthouse press conference held by Bompiani, a Youngwood chiropractor. He was reacting to the withdrawal of state Sen. Robert Regola , R-Hempfield, from the Senate race.

O'Barto supporters believe there are hard feelings about their guy because he entered the 2007 commissioners race only to bow out later.

Both commissioners are also friends with Mike Reese , assistant director of financial administration for the county, who is the Republican opposing O'Barto to succeed retiring state Rep. Jess Stairs , R-Acme.

Balya and Ceraso say they support O'Barto, but actions usually speak louder than politicians' words.

DUMMY UP. Did Rep. Tim Mahoney , D-Uniontown, string along the voters?

During his 2006 campaign, Mahoney usually bashed House Minority Leader H. William DeWeese , D-Waynesburg, one of the ringleaders of the 2005 pay-jacking.

Mahoney had told voters he would not be a "puppet on a string" for the disgraced DeWeese. He also said he wouldn't back DeWeese for a leadership position in the Legislature.

We guess Mahoney never said anything about accepting money from DeWeese. Since 2007, campaign finance records show Mahoney has received $8,000 in campaign contributions from DeWeese.

Mahoney's predecessor in the 51st District, Larry Roberts , D-South Union, said he doesn't remember ever receiving contributions from the Greene County puppet master.

PERSISTENT ROOMER. Jeannette City Clerk Ron Dinsmore appears secure in his job despite rumors since January that the new council regime, led by Jeff DePalma and John Busato , would evict their fellow Democrat.

But Dinsmore, a 12-year city employee, still calls City Hall his second home.